Spraying and dusting machine



Nov. 5, 1940. G. w. DAUGHERTY SPRAYING AND DUsTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 8, 1936 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 SCREEN ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1940. G. w. DAUGHERTY SPRAYING AND DUSTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Nov. 5, 194@ PATEN'I` OFFICE 2.220.032 s rnamc AND nUs'rING momma George W. Daugherty, Orlando, Fla.

Application October 8, 1936, Serial No. 104,573

Renewed July 12, 1939 17 Claims.

This invention relates to a spraying and dusting machine. Machines of this type are used for spraying and dusting fruit trees and crops of various types in order to destroy insect pests.

At the present time, in spraying and dusting,

there is generally employed a hopper or spray tank which contains the dusting or spraying material, some sort of power means beingadapted to supply the dusting or spraying material to a nozzle on the end of a hose. An operator holds the hose, and the material issues from the hose under considerable pressure and is sprayed over the trees and crops. In other types of apparatus, a sheet metal duct may be substituted for the hose and held fixed in a preferred spraying or dusting position.

This method of spraying and dusting is unsatisfactory since it is impossible to obtain an even distribution of the material. Also, it is practically impossible to utilize the same apparatus for spraying both high and low trees, and at the same time spraying delicate plants of all sorts. Similarly, the method of spraying and 25 dusting thus generally described is deficient in that it is rather slow, since the material issues from they hose in a rather compact stream, as

.35 very large producers,and even there, it is not extremely satisfactory, since an airplane travels at a great speed so that it is impossible to exercise any substantial control over the spreading of the material.

My invention provides means for spraying or dusting, as the case may be, in which the material is sent forth in the form of a very fine fog or mist, so that a very uniform distribution of the dusting or spraying material is obtained. At 45 the same time, my invention provides a means for directing the ow of the'dusting and spraying material so that I am able to dust and spray very high trees, or low trees, or growing crops in fields.

Before describing in detail my invention, it may be well to indicate its general construction, The basic feature of my invention embodies a means for creating an air blast, preferably over a relatively large area, such as might be possible f in an air tunnel; and feeding a supply of spraying or dusting material into this air blast so that it may be picked up by the air blast and formed into a ilne fog of dusting or spraying material, as the case may be.

For carrying out my invention, I utilize an air tunnel in which an internal combustion engine drives a large airplane propeller of considerable size. Where dusting is required, I utilize a hopper containing dusting material, and I provide l0 a. fan for blowing the dusting material through a hose and out through a nozzle which is placed with its open mouth in the path of the air blast formed by the propeller. The nozzle is preferably pointed in the same direction as the blast l5 of air, so that the dusting material shoots out of the nozzle in a substantial stream and is picked up by the air blast and formed into a ne fog of dusting material.

In the case of the spraying material, I utilize a tank carrying the liquid spraying material, a pump being adapted to pump the liquid under pressure through a hose and through a nozzle also placed with its open end in front ofthe air blast.

It will readily be appreciated that in either case, the strong air blast picks up the material as it is delivered at the end of the nozzle and forms it into a ne fog of material. It will be `readily appreciated that by varying the location of the open end of the nozzle relatively to the air blast, theV consistency of the fog may be changed. It is also possible tochange the consistency of the fog of material formed by the air blast by decreasing or increasing the flow of material from the hopper `or. tank, as the case may be, or the pressure behind it.

As a further extremely important feature of my invention, I utilize means for directing the air blast and therefore the direction of the fog of material formed thereby. Such means preferably embody a series of elevators and guide fins pivoted to the end of the tunnel and movable in the manner of airplane fins and elevators, so as to direct the flow of material. In the case of the spraying material, especially, I prefer to mount the nozzles so that theyv move with the elevators, thus facilitating the control of the 'direction of the flow of the material. As a matvter of fact, I prefer also' to vconnect the nozzles to the directional ilns so that the` nozzles may pivot to the right and left while also moving to an inclined upward position with the elevators.

As a further feature of the invention, I provide 55 yns ' means for breaking up the material carried by the airy blast so as to assist in forming a very iine fog or mist, a preferred way of doing this being to placca wire screen in front oi' the fins and ele- Ii vators, and through which wire screen the matelrial must pass,

As still a further feature of my invention, I provide means tending to make uniform the air blast, especially where some obstructing object is positioned behindthe tanicr propeller so as to prevent the fan receiving aunii'ormly distributed supply of air, thus setting up a vacuum condition.

The means for regulating the air blast so as to render it uniform in consistency comprises preferably a pair of vertical guides whichA straighten out the air blast, and by straightening out the air blast, make it relatively uniform over the area of the air tunnel.

Further objects of the invention and valuablev 20 features thereof will of course appear upon a reading of the detailed description oi.' myinvention which follows.

For describing in detail my invention, I shall refer to the drawings wherein Fig. l is a perspective view taken from the rea`r of a vehicle' carrying .a preferred embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of various parts of my invention. Fig.3 is a partial section and plan viewof Fig. 2 with most of the parts removed therefrom'. Fig. 4 is an elevation ofa mod ication of my invention utilizing a liquid spray, while Fig. 5 is a plan view of the parts of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing how the spray nozzle moves with the elevators, while Fig. 'l shows how the spray nozzle is connected for pivoting movement with the guide fins. Fig. 8 is a modification.

Referring now more particularlyto the drawings and especially to Fig. 1, reference numeral I0 40 indicates a wind tunnel formed of metal and supported on a trailer chassis I I adapted to be pulled by a vehicle to which it may be secured by a coun kpling I2, shown in Fig. `2. In Fig. 2, the apparatus carried at the front end of the trailer chas- 45 sis. II and in the wind tunnel is illustrated diaj grammatically. v Y The'apparatus of Fig. 2 is used for dusting and j 'comprises a` hopper I3 of a standard type now Y `being'"manufactured for use in dusting. This o'hopperhasattached thereto a fan Il which acts thro'ghfa' hose I5 to supply` material to each of a pair ofj'nozzle openings I6. lFor driving the fan I 4, I use an internal combustion engine II which is connected through belt I8 and various gear 55 mechanisms with the fan I4, as will be readily appreciated. 'I'he engine I1 also drives an airplane type of propeller I9 which forms a powerful blast of air in the air tunnel III. Vertical guides. 20 are positioned in the air tun- 60 nel and act to straighten the flow of air from the propeller I9. Where the air is unevenly supplied to the propeller I9, due to the positioning of obstructing elements in the air path', thus acting in eilect to set up a vacuum behind the fan, there is 35 naturally a tendency for the air stream formed by the propeller I9 to be uneven.l This condition y may also cause the air `blast to assume a; direction atan angle tothe air tunnel itself, and the guides 20 are extremely helpful in straightening out the 70 air ilow, therefore. i It will be readily appreciated that the air blast formed by the propeller I9 will pick up the dusting'material supplied by nozzles I6 and will form it into a relatively ilne fog of material. Cer- 75" tainly, it will be appreciated that the fog oi.' matethe nozzles bythe fan I4. For further breaking up the air blast and for further distributing the material carried thereby, I utilize a wire screen shown in the drawings, the operation thereof being quite clear to those skilled in the art.

In order to control the direction of the air blast and the fog of material, the tunnel I0 may be pivoted on the chassis in much the manner of a search light. I ilnd, however, that I can obtain practically all of the directional control I require by utilizing a series of direction fins and guides and by a series of elevators. The elevators are designated by reference numeral 2I and are moved much as airplane elevators, by proper controls. Preferably, all the `elevators move as one unit. Y- 1 `In my machine, it is possible to spray two parallel rows of trees when the machine is pulled be.- tween the rows. This type of spraying is possible in the machine through the utilization of two series of guide ns 22, one series on one side of the machine, and the other series on the other side of the machine, a stationary guide 23 being placed in the center of the air tunnel. These guide ns are operated through a proper control and may be set in any particular desired position. Reference numeral 24 shows a type of control which may be utilized. In addition, there being two sets of these ns 22, one set will guide part of .the air stream in one direction, while the other set guides another part of the air stream in another direction. By increasing the number of fins, greater control may be obtained over the air stream.

In Fig. 2, I illustrate how the elevators 2I may pivot upwardly from their full line position toI their dotted line position. In Fig. 3, I show how the guide iins 22 may pivot from a full line position to a dotted line position to direct the air stream.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I illustrate an embodiment of my invention in which a liquid spray is utilized. The spray is contained in a tank 25 and is pumped by a pump-26, through a series of hose 2l to nozzles 28. While I do not show a propeller in Figs. 4 and 5, it is understood that there is a propeller in Figs. 4 and 5 which generates an air blast which picks up the spray material delivered at the end of the nozzle 28 and forms it into a fine mist or fog, just as in the m'odication of Figs. l, 2 and 3. Elevators 2| and guide ns 22 are utilized in the modification of Figs. 4 and 5, just as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. However, I prefer tov mount the nozzles 28 directly on the elevators 2I so that the nozzles may pivot with the elevators as is best illustrated in Fig. 6, from a full line position to a dotted line position.

The nozzles 28 are secured to the elevators 2I through rotating shafts 29 so that the nozzles may rotate relatively to the elevators 2I to assume positions parallel to the guide ilns 22, as is best illustrated in Fig. '7. Through a universal connecting means 30, shownY diagrammatically in Fig. '7, it is possible to connect the nozzles 28 .to theguide ilns 22 for positioning the nozzles parallel to the guide ns, as is illustrated in Fig. 7. This assists in controlling the directional now of the material, as will be readily appreciated. Of course, the nozzles may otherwise be set in proper directional positions,v as will be appreciated. v

In Fig. 4, I illustrate a screen 3| which is utilized to protect the apparatus thereunder while allowing a irce ow of air. In Fig. 2, I `show the internal combustion engine l1 placed in front of the propeller |9. It will be readily appreciated that the propeller may be placed in front of the engine so as to make it possible for the air blast to cool the motor, this being a desirable feature, especially in warm climates.

In Fig. 8, I illustrate a modified form of my invention in which two propellers I9 are used in order to cover a larger area. These are placed at an angle to one another, preferably 45. They are driven from the same motor l1 through suitable gearing, so that the propeller blades will intermesh but will not hit one another. For controlling the air blasts generated, I intend using the same types of fins 22 and elevators 2l as in my rst modification.

Having now described my invention generally, and two preferred embodiments thereof in detail, should like to indicatethat further modliications of my invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, Ido not wish to be limited in my patent monopoly except as is required by the state of the art.

I now claim:

l. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, an air tunnel, means for creating and forming an air blast through said tunnel, and a second means for delivering acontinuous supply of powdered or liquid material to said tunnel at a point in said tunnel on the discharge 40 side of said air blast creating and forming means whereby said air blast blow's said material outwardly of said tunnel in the form of a fine fog.

2. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, an air tunnel having an exhaust 45 end, a propeller adapted to create an air blast in said tunnel in the direction of said exhaust end, pressure means including a nozzle for delivering a continuous supply of spray material into the path of said air blast where it will be picked up by said air, blast and formed into a fine fog of material, a series of guide fins and elevators pivotally mounted at the exhaust end of the tunnel for directing the said air blast and the fog of material formed thereby, and means for securing said nozzle for movement with said elevators so as to direct the flow of spray material in a direction parallel to said elevators.

3. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, an air tunnel having an exhaust end, a pair of propellers set at an angle to one another and each adapted to create an air blast in said tunnel in the direction of said exhaust end, pressure means for delivering a continuous supply of spray or dusting material into the paths of said air blasts where it will be picked up by said air blasts and formed into a fine fog of material, a series of guide fins and elevators pivotally mounted at the exhaust end of the tunnel for directing the said air blasts and the fog of material formed thereby.

4. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, an air tunnel of relatively larger area, means for creating air blast through said tunnel and over the entire large area of said air tunnel, a relatively small passage through V the entire area of said air tunnel, and means for feeding spraying material through said passage to said point of the air tunnel, whereby said diffused air blast will blow said material out of said tunnel in the form of'a fine fog.

5. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, a vehicle, an air tunnel of relatively large area mounted on said vehicle, a propeller of airplane type and size mounted in said tunnel and adapted to create an air blast diffused over the entire area of said air tunnel, means for feeding spraying material to said air blast at a point on the discharge side of said air blast and after said air blast has been diffused over substantially the entire area of said air tunnel, whereby said air blast will pick up said material and form it into a ne fog of material, and a series of guide fins mountedV on the exhaust-end of said air tunnel for guiding the flow of said air blast out of said tunnel and therefore the flow of said fine fog of material.

6. In a machine of the class described, an air tunnel of relatively large cross sectional area, a propeller of the type and size used in commercial airplanes mounted in a portion of said air tunnel for creating an air blast through said tunnel, means for delivering a continuous supply of powdered material to the said air blast at the discharge side of said tunnel, whereby said air blast will pick up said material and form it into a fine fog, and a series of guide fins mounted on the exhaust end of said air tunnel for guiding the flow of said air blast out of said tunnel and therefore the ow of said fine fog of material.

7. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, an air tunel of relatively large area, an air propeller of a size substantially the diameter of the effective area of said air tunnel, means mounting said propeller for rotation on an axis substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of said air tunnel, a relatively small passage through which spraying or dusting material is fed into a forward position relatively to said air propeller whereby the blast of air formed by said air propeller will form said material into a fine fog of material, and means for feeding said material through said passage.

8. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, an air tunnel of relatively large area, an air propeller of substantially the same size as the diameter of said air tunnel, means mounting said propeller for rotation on an axis substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of said air tunnel, a series of def-lector guides at the exhaust end of said tunnel for directing the air blast formed by said air propeller, a relatively small passage through which spraying or dusting material is fed into a forward position relatively to said air propeller whereby the blast of air formed by said air propeller will form said material into a fine fog of material, and means for feeding said material through said passage.

9. In a spraying and dusting machine of the class described, an air tunnel of relatively large area, an air propeller of substantially the same size as the diameter of said air tunnel, means mounting said propeller for rotation on an axis substantially concentric with the longitudinal axis of said air tunnel, a series of deector guides at the exhaustendof said tunnel for directing '25 t sie the air blast formed by said air propeller, air

pianspiaiiei to the longitudinal axis of said tunnel and between said propeller and said defed into a position forwardly of said air blast creating means whereby to be formed by said air blast into a line fog of material, a storage container for said material, and means for feedilector guides, a relatively small passage through ing said material from said storage container I which spraying or dusting Ymaterial is .fed intoa through said passage. ,Y i-forward position relatively to said air propeller 14. In a spraying and dusting machine ofthe whereby the blast of air formed by said air pro-V class described, anair tunnel of relatively large peller will form said material into a fine fog area..means for creatingan air blast through oflmaterial, and means for feeding said material said tunnel, a series of horizontal vana at the 10 through said passage. end of said tunnel for denecting the air blast 10. Ina spraying and dusting machine of the horizontally, a series of vertical vanes at the class described, an air tunnel of relatively large end of said tunnel for deflecting the air blast area, an air propeller of substantially the same vertically, means for adjusting at least certain size as the diameter of the effective area of said of said vanes, a relatively small passage through l5 "air tunnel, means mounting said propeller for which material may be fed forwardly of said air rotation on an axis substantially concentric with blast creating means whereby to be formed by the longitudinal axis of said air tunnel, a series said air blast into a fine fog of material, and of deilector guides at the exhaust end of said means for feeding material through said passage. tunnel for directing the air blast formed by said 15. In a spraying and dusting machine of the zo air propeller, a relatively, small passage through class described, an air tunnel of relatively large which spraying or dusting material is fed into area, means for creating an air blast through a forward position relatively to said air prosaid tunnel, a series of horizontal vanes at the peller and outwardly of said tunnel whereby the end of said tunnel for deilecting the air blast blast of air formed by said air propeller will form horizontally, a series of vertical vanes at the end 25 said material into a fine fog of material, and of said tunnel for deilecting the air blast verti- 'means for feeding said material through said cally, means for adjusting at least certain of said passage. vanes. a relatively small passage through which 11. In a spraying and vdusting machine of the material may be fed forwardly of said air blast v class described, an air tunnel of relatively large creating means and outwardly of said tunnel 30 area, means for creating an air blast through whereby to be formed by said air blast into a" said tunnel, a series of air deflectors and guides fine fog of material, and means for feeding mamounted at that end of said tunnel through terial through said passage. which the blast of air leaves said tunnel and 16. In a spraying and dusting machine of the whereby said blast of air is guided, means for class described, an air tunnel of relatively large $5 adjusting at least certain of said deiiector guides, area, means for creating an air blast through a relatively small passage through which spraysaid tunnel, a. series of horizontal vanes at the ing or dusting material is fed into a position forend of said tunnel for deilecting the air blast `wardly of said air blast creating means, whereby horizontally, vertical vanes at the end of said to be formed by said air blast into a ne fog of vtunnel for deilecting the air blast vertically and o material, and means for feeding said material positioned for dividing said air blast vertically through said passage. into two air blasts, means for adjusting at least l2. In a spraying and dusting machine of the certain of said vanes, a relatively small passage class described, an air tunnel of relatively large through which material is fed into a forward area, a propeller for creating an air blast position relatively to said airblast creating means 5 through said tunnel, a series of air deflectors whereby to be formed by said air blast into a and guides mounted at that end of said tunnel fine fog of material, a storage container for said through which the blast of air leaves said tunmaterial, and means for feeding said material nel, means for adjusting at least certain of said from said storage container through said passage. deilector guides, air straightening baiiies mount- 17. In a spraying and dusting machine of the u ed in said tunnel in planes parallel to the lonclass described, an air tunnel of relatively large gitudinal axis of said tunnel and between said area, means for creating an air blast through propeller and said deiiector guides, a relatively said tunnel and over the entire large area of said small passage through which material may be air tunnel, a relatively small passage through fed into a position forwardly of said propeller which material may be fed to a point in front 55 whereby to be formed by said air blast into a fine of said air blast creating means, said passage fog of material, and means for feeding said terminating at a point on the discharge side of material through said passage. said air blast where the material is picked up 4. 13. In a spraying and dusting machine of the by said air blast and after said air blast has been class described, an air tunnel of relatively large diiused over substantially the entire area of said 50 area, means for creating an air blast through air tunnel, means for feeding spraying material said tunnel, a series of air deflectors and guides through said passage and therefore to said point mounted at that end of said tunnel through whereby said diffused air blast will pick up said which the blast of air leaves said tunnel, means material and form it into a ne fog of material, for adjusting at least certain of said deilector and a series of guide fins mounted on the exhaust g5 guides, a fixed vertical vane at the vertical center of said air tunnel and additional vertical vanes to each side of said fixed vane adapted to divide the air blast in two parts, a relatively small passage through which material may be end of said air tunnel for directing the flow of said air blast and therefore of said ne fog of material. GEORGE W. DAUGHERTY. 

